AFC Bournemouth
Steve Fletcher probably thought he had seen it all before he returned to Dean Court for a fairy tale second spell in January 2009.
The talismanic target man was one of new boss Eddie Howe’s first signings and answered an SOS with the club fighting for its Football League survival.
Fletcher, who had dropped into the Conference with Crawley via a spell at Chesterfield following his release by the Cherries in the summer of 2007, was tasked with playing his part in what would become known as the Greatest Escape.
At the time, the 36-year-old admitted his return could “raise a few eyebrows” but his dedication to his adopted hometown club and desire to succeed would never be in doubt.
Standing between the Cherries and a first win in management for Howe were League Two leaders Wycombe Wanderers who boasted the best away record in the division with just one defeat and six goals conceded.
And as Fletcher prepared himself for a rousing pre-match pep-talk from Howe ahead of his second debut for the club, the popular frontman and his team-mates had a big surprise in store.
Speaking after the game, Fletcher told the press: "Just before we left the changing room, we got into a huddle and I thought Eddie was going to give us a monumental motivational speech.
"But he turned to Mike Dowding the kitman and told him to take it away. He then told us a joke about two rooks sitting in a tree at the Bournemouth Air Show!
"It inspired me in a weird way. I had never known anything like it in 20 years and it was something I will always remember. If any of the lads were nervous before the game, it certainly relaxed them."
Although Fletcher almost made a dream start by scoring inside the opening two minutes, it was the visitors who drew first blood through Matt Harrold.
Spurs loanee David Button, making his second appearance for the club, failed to deal with a Jason Pearce back-pass and presented the Wycombe man with a tap-in after just nine minutes.
But – and just a week before his 21st birthday – Brett Pitman netted with a stunning Ronaldo-esque free-kick from 30 yards to bring down the house in front of crowd of almost 6,000, more than 1,200 up on the previous home game against Barnet.
With Pitman and Fletcher offering mobility and muscle up front, Wycombe were put to the sword.
Pitman provided a precision corner for Pearce to thump a header past Wycombe goalkeeper Scott Shearer to give the Cherries a 32nd-minute lead before Howe’s team left the pitch at half-time to a standing ovation.
And it got better after the break when Southampton loan star Jake Thomson made it 3-1, his 63rd-minute cross-shot looping over a stranded Shearer to leave the formbook shredded.
Fletcher went on to feature in all 20 games and scored the memorable winner in a 2-1 home victory over Grimsby which sealed the Cherries’ remarkable escape from relegation.
In an interview with afcbTV, Fletcher said: "Wycombe had been the stand-out team in the first half of the season and it was a baptism of fire.
"We went 1-0 down early on and I walked back to halfway line and thought ‘oh dear, what the hell is going on?’
"We equalised with an unbelievable free-kick from Brett from about 30 yards and, from that moment on, my feet didn’t touch the ground. It was crazy.
"We got a second goal and then a third and won 3-1. It was an amazing atmosphere. I think everyone in the ground and the changing room had the belief that we could do it."
Features
